SCExAO: A testbed for developing high-contrast imaging technologies for ELTs

Kyohoon Ahn, Olivier Guyon, Julien Lozi, Sébastien Vievard, Vincent Deo, Nour Skaf, Ruslan Belikov, Steven P. Bos, Michael Bottom, Thayne Currie, Richard Frazin, Kyle V. Gorkom, Tyler D. Groff, Sebastiaan Y. Haffert, Nemanja Jovanovic, Hajime Kawahara, Takayuki Kotani, Jared R. Males, Frantz Martinache, Ben MazinKelsey Miller, Barnaby Norris, Alexander Rodack, Alison Wong

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

To directly detect exoplanets and protoplanetary disks, the development of high accuracy wavefront sensing and control (WFSandC) technologies is essential, especially for ground-based Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs). The Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO) instrument is a high-contrast imaging platform to discover and characterize exoplanets and protoplanetary disks. It also serves as a testbed to validate and deploy new concepts or algorithms for high-contrast imaging approaches for ELTs, using the latest hardware and software technologies on an 8-meter class telescope. SCExAO is a multi-band instrument, using light from 600 to 2500 nm, and delivering a high Strehl ratio (>80% in median seeing in H-band) downstream of a low-order correction provided by the facility AO188. Science observations are performed with coronagraphs, an integral field spectrograph, or single aperture interferometers. The SCExAO project continuously reaches out to the community for development and upgrades. Existing operating testbeds such as the SCExAO are also unique opportunities to test and deploy the new technologies for future ELTs. We present and show a live demonstration of the SCExAO capabilities (Real-Time predictive AO control, Focal plane WFSandC, etc) as a host testbed for the remote collaborators to test and deploy the new WFSandC concepts or algorithms. We also present several high-contrast imaging technologies that are under development or that have already been demonstrated on-sky.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationTechniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets X
EditorsStuart B. Shaklan, Garreth J. Ruane
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510644847
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
EventTechniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets X 2021 - San Diego, United States
Duration: Aug 1 2021Aug 5 2021

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume11823
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceTechniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets X 2021
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego
Period8/1/218/5/21

Keywords

  • Astronomical Instrumentation
  • Coronagraphy
  • Exoplanet
  • Extreme Adaptive Optics
  • High-Contrast Imaging
  • Wavefront SensingandControl

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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